Chapter 168. The Macmillans.
Gloucestershire.
The moment "Ihiros" appeared on the grounds of the house, his face twisted and he almost immediately dropped to one knee, pressing his hand to his cloak over his chest.
I didn't think I had used that much magic. But I've still strained my core.
"Severus."
"I'm fine." He looked up at the worried face peeking out from under the hood and smiled gently. Then he took a slow breath, pushed the pain aside, rose to his feet, and started toward the door. "I just misjudged my strength a little. So, what did you think of the show?" he asked, changing the subject, already dispelling the old man's appearance and returning to his own face as he dropped the hood.
Nagini understood exactly what he was doing, but decided to play along. Too much had happened today, and she did not want to add to his burden with her worry.
"It was very interesting, though I expected more from people who managed to overpower Toby and wound Agnes."
"They only got lucky thanks to Toby. If he hadn't been protecting the shop and worrying about everyone else at the time, they wouldn't have survived. He was using at most eighty percent of his true ability, and used no area-of-effect spells." Severus opened the door, went inside, and headed straight for the sitting room, dropping his cloak along the way. Before long, that little one might even reach the middle ranks of Master. He dropped onto the sofa, and Nagini slithered across to settle on his chest.
"Severus, are you sure you're all right?" She studied his face, which had turned a shade paler than usual.
"Everything is under control. Give me an hour to rest and I'll be completely fine." He stroked her head, closed his eyes and focused on recovery. Sleep would have restored his core far faster, but then the copy at the Macmillan house, his alibi that ihiros and Severus were two different people, would simply dissolve. And after more than five days without sleep, he would almost certainly have crashed for a full day, which was inconvenient right now. He wanted to finish everything first and sleep properly afterwards.
"Yes..." Nagini looked at his face with quiet sadness, her head resting on his chest. "When will peaceful times finally come?"
---
In a small, half-ruined building twenty kilometers from the site of the battle, a white sparrow flew in through a window and landed directly before a small mirror. The next moment, it began to grow rapidly, and within seconds, it had taken the form of a short man in his early forties, with a tired look about him. What was most remarkable about him was his hair: white as a bird's feathers.
"Una no peri..." he whispered, extending his palm toward the mirror. A ripple spread across its surface.
"Report," said an indifferent female voice. Its owner appeared: a brunette in white, wearing a jacket, skirt, and blouse, her cold blue eyes watching him from behind glasses.
"Squad Seven has been eliminated. I arrived too late." He exhaled with weary resignation. "A threat has emerged: at least fifth rank. He dealt with almost the entire squad effortlessly. They couldn't scratch him. Everything he used was simple, basic spells, except for the dome of fire. In my assessment, a direct confrontation with this individual is inadvisable."
"Explain."
"He noticed me but let me go. That suggests he has no interest in conflict with us. This was strictly retaliation for the attack."
"You're suggesting we let this pass, after he killed an entire group of our people?" She fixed him with a stern look.
"Yes. He is too dangerous, and a conflict with this old man could harm our plans." He delivered his assessment without any reaction to her gaze.
"Understood. Return to headquarters. I've heard your assessment and will report it to command. They'll make the final decision after reviewing your memories." She donned her mask of indifference once more and gave the order.
"As you say." He waved vaguely, barely acknowledging her change in manner, and the image gradually dissolved, replaced once more by his own reflection. "I thought this assignment would give me a quiet day." He sighed again. He pulled out a pack of cigarettes, took one, and lit it, leaning against the window frame.
"Same as always." But when he thought of the old wizard's eyes, a chill ran down his spine and a crooked smile crept across his face. Frightening old man. I'd really rather not have him as an enemy. Well, one can only hope command doesn't get it into their heads to eliminate him.
---
Shortly before one in the afternoon, Ihiros arrived at the Macmillan manor. The butler who met him at the door led him inside with a respectful expression. Severus and John were sitting in the drawing room over a game of chess.
The moment John saw him, he jumped up from the sofa as though stung. Severus rose calmly.
"You could take a lesson from him on how to show proper respect for your teacher," Ihiros said, appraising Severus with a flat look. John flushed slightly. Severus smiled. "Never mind. Let's go to your father. He should be coming around shortly."
"Y-yes!" John exclaimed, unable to conceal his agitation. He could barely wait for the moment his father would open his eyes.
"Teacher, judging by your satisfied expression, I take it you've handled everything?" At this, John looked at the old man's face with a puzzled expression; it showed no visible change in emotion compared to the last time he had seen it.
"We'll discuss it when we're back."
"Understood."
They reached the room, and just as John was about to open the door, they heard a groan from within. He threw the door open forcefully and stepped inside, then stopped.
Faust, who had been in a coma the whole time, was staring at him in silence, looking genuinely confused.
"What is it? Why are you looking at me like that? And must you slam the door?" he snapped at his son with a frown, trying to figure out what was going on. A moment ago he had been in the shop, and now he was in bed.
"F-father..." John whispered, his voice dry, fighting to keep his emotions in check. He wanted nothing more than to rush to him and embrace him, but he could not allow himself that. His father had always taught him that showing emotion was weakness.
"Hm. Not bad." At that moment, "Ihiros" entered the room, immediately putting Faust on guard. But when he noticed Severus, he blinked in surprise.
"Severus?"
"Good evening, Mr. Macmillan. I'm glad you've woken up. How are you feeling?"
"How am I feeling?" Faust sat up and looked at Severus in puzzlement, then at John, who was clenching his trembling fists, a strange expression on his face. "Um... I feel perfectly fine." It finally dawned on him that something about this situation wasn't right. "What happened to me?"
"You were attacked, and to put it plainly, someone went through your mind and nearly destroyed it entirely."
"What?!"
"My teacher managed to restore it with considerable difficulty, but you'll most likely have some gaps in your memory. He told your son as much beforehand," Severus added with a slight smile, which genuinely stunned Faust. He looked at John again.
"John..." Before he could say anything more, John stepped toward him and wrapped his arms around him, visibly surprising Faust. Such an open display of emotion was something entirely new coming from his son.
"Father, thank Merlin you're alive." He swallowed past the tightness in his throat and held on, simply unable to believe it.
Compose yourself. Did I raise you to behave like this?" Faust patted his son on the back with a crooked smile and a tired sigh. But a few seconds later, realization struck him, and his lips twitched. He looked at Severus. "You said your teacher?" His gaze shifted slowly to the old man, and he paled slightly when he met a pair of cold eyes.
"I am glad you have seen fit to notice me." ihiros narrowed his eyes with restrained menace, stepped toward the embracing pair, and without asking permission, placed his palm on Faust's head. He held it there for a few seconds, then withdrew it. "Hm. There is nothing more for us to do here. We're leaving."
"P-please wait! Would you stay with us a while? Come here, let go!" Faust peeled his embarrassed son off him, quickly got to his feet, and stepped toward ihiros. "I have an excellent wine collection. Please, I insist."
"That does not interest me. I have already stayed too long. Severus, we are leaving."
"Yes, Teacher." Severus nodded to Ihiros as he moved toward the exit, then turned to Faust. "Mr. Macmillan, you need to rest right now. Your mind has been restored, but it would be better not to strain it for the time being. The fish, by the way, is wonderful." The kitten resting on his arm gave a businesslike nod in confirmation. "I'll come by the shop in a couple of days. Get well. Good day." He gave a slight bow, his voice warm, and walked out of the room. Together with the old man, he vanished.
Only after several seconds did Faust recover his composure and look at his son.
"How long was I in bed?"
"Over five days. Almost every healer said there was nothing to be done. But right up until the end, I refused to believe it."
"That's enough. You are a grown man, not a little girl. In a moment like that, your first thought must be for your sister and your family, not for an old man with one foot in the grave," Faust said with a tired sigh, giving John a stern look, but he couldn't hold back a warm smile. He had always thought that raising John so strictly had made the boy resent him. He had never dreamed he would hear such words from him. "How is Leila?"
"She went back to Hogwarts yesterday evening. She barely left your bedside for the first two days." John smiled. He watched his father's expression grow slightly flustered. "She'll be so happy to know you've recovered."
"Good. I am glad to have such a wonderful family."
"Father... I took your place as head of house." The moment the words left his mouth, John looked at Faust with guilt in his eyes. To his surprise, Faust showed no reaction at all.
"That was only natural. And it may be for the best." He crossed to his son, placed his hand on John's head, gave him an encouraging nod, and ruffled his hair lightly. "I'd been thinking for some time about passing it to you. I simply never found the right moment."
"But aren't I too young? You always said Grandfather didn't let you take over the family until you were thirty-two."
"The old jerk was worried about his own hide." Faust snorted, venom in his voice. "He was afraid I'd throw him out of the house the moment I had the authority, so he kept dragging his feet."
This was a genuine revelation for John. He had always thought of his grandfather as a decent man, strict though he was.
"So there's nothing to worry about. For now, I'll still be here watching over you, and in a year or two I can think about a proper retirement." He tapped John on the head and headed for the door. "Come. Let's have a drink. It isn't every day that a son becomes the head of his family."
"Yes... Father."
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